New Delhi, July 2: Following heightened security measures in the northeastern states of India, cannabis smugglers have shifted their operations towards Nepal. Central agencies report that cannabis cultivated on a large scale in Nepal is now being trafficked into India via Bihar. From there, it is transported to southern India, Sri Lanka, and eventually reaches international markets in the United States and Europe.
Officials indicate that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, there has been a significant focus on development and border security in the northeastern states. This has led to a substantial decline in illegal cannabis cultivation in states like Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. Consequently, traffickers have identified Nepal as a new source.
Experts suggest that cannabis grown in hilly regions is of superior quality, leading to higher demand in international markets. Investigative agencies have identified Sunsari district in Nepal as a major hub for cannabis trafficking. From there, the drug is smuggled into India through the open border with Bihar’s Araria and Supaul districts. It is then transported by road to southern India and subsequently shipped to international markets via Sri Lanka.
Central agencies and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) are closely monitoring this entire network. Officials state that the 1,751-kilometer-long open border between India and Nepal poses a significant challenge for law enforcement. Traffickers use private cars, motorcycles, and trucks to transport narcotics into India.
According to officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), brokers play a crucial role in this network. They facilitate the movement of people and contraband from Nepal to Bihar without detection for a fee. Authorities claim that this network has previously been used to smuggle terrorists from Pakistan into India. The Indian Mujahideen has also utilized this route.
While officials note that the volume of cannabis coming from Nepal is less compared to drugs from Pakistan or the “Golden Triangle” region, the frequency of shipments is considerably higher.
To combat substance abuse, the central government has intensified its crackdown on narcotics as part of its strategy to create a drug-free India. Surveillance has been increased at major transit points, and significant operations are being conducted regularly.
Authorities express concern over narcotics being sent via drones from Pakistan. The United Nations has also classified the India-Nepal open border as sensitive in terms of human trafficking, drug smuggling, counterfeit currency, and arms trafficking.
Indian agencies report that the border with Uttar Pradesh is also used for smuggling, but the Bihar route remains the traffickers’ preferred choice. Nepal had banned cannabis cultivation in 1976, although calls to lift this ban have surfaced periodically.
Recently, the NCB dismantled an international drug trafficking ring operating across Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka. Investigations revealed that hashish and hash oil were being smuggled from Kathmandu into India through the Sonouli border route.
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